Terracing machine



Jan. 2, 14s. H. H. TAYLOR 2,434,818

TERRACING MACHINE Filed Margh 29, 1946 I 2 Sheets-Shget l flnakeiffaylor By fiawaofih M mm Inventor Patented Jan. 20, 1948 UNITED STATES?ATENT OFFICE TERRACING MACHINE Herschel H. Taylor, J elferson City, Mo.Application March 29, 1946, Serial No. 658,087

3 Claims. (Cl. 37-159) My invention relates to improvements in terracingmechanism of the scraper blade tractordrawn type.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a terracing mechanismadapted for attachment to the usual tractor, without altering thetractor, and in which a scraper blade is adjustable in accordance withall operating requirements in terracing, and easily from the seat of thetractor.

Another object is to provide mechanism of the character and for thepurpose above set forth which is simple in construction, requiressubstantially no servicing, and will not readily get out of order.

Other and subordinate objects, also comprehend-ed by my invention,together with the precise nature of my improvements, and the manifoldadvantages thereof will be readily understood when the succeedingdescription and claims are read with reference to the drawingsaccompanying and forming part of this specification.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in plan of my improved terracing mechanism in apreferred embodiment thereof,

Figure 2 is a view in vertical longitudinal section.

Figure 3 is a view in front elevation, with parts shown in section,

Figure 4 is a detail fragmentary view in vertical section taken on theline 4-4 of Figure 2 and drawn to an enlarged scale, and

Figure 5 is a detail fragmentary View in section taken on the line 5-5of Figure 2 and also drawn to an enlarged scale.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, as shown therein, my improvedterracin mechanism is designed especially for attachment to the usualpair of trailing side bars I of a tractor, not shown, and which formpart of rigid draw-bar supporting means of certain well-known tractorsof commerce and are connected by a cross-bar 2.

According to my invention, an elongated scraper blade carrying frame 3is mounted on said crossbar 2 to extend lengthwise rearwardly thereofand a a connected together by suitable upper and lower plates 6, 1having a bushing 8 rigidly imposed between the same.

For mounting the frame 3 on the cross-bar 2, the front ends of the sidebars 4 are suitably fixed on the ends of a transverse rock shaft 9extending through cheek plates 9' on said rear ends of the side bars 4.The rock shaft 9 is journaled in a tubular bearing l0 provided in itstransverse center, and in the longitudinal axis of the frame 3, with aforwardly extending stub shaft ll journaled horizontally in a bearing l2bolted, as at 3, on top of an angle iron bracket 14 fixed upon asupporting angle iron beam I5 fixed flat on the cross-bar 2. The bracketl4 and the beam l5 may be fixed relatively, and the beam l5 fixed on thecross-bar 2, by welding, not shown.

The scraper blade l6, which is of the usual design, is mounted in therear end of the frame 3 to extend endwise across said frame by means ofa post I! suitably fixed to said blade in the transverse center thereofwith an intermediate portion extending through and journaled in theplates 6, 'l and the bushing 8, so that said post is rotatable inbearings for a purpose presently apparent.

Manually operative means are provided for oscillating the frame 3, nowto be described.

An arcuate track member l8 extending transversely of the frame 3 betweenthe front ends thereof is fixed in upright position adjacent to saidends to the rear side of the angle iron beam it, as by welding notshown. The track member 18 is of channel form with its channel sideoutermost. A pair of channel iron segments [9 suitably secured in saidtrack member l9 at opposite ends thereof reinforce said track member.Circumferentially extending slots 20, 2| in the track member andsegments [9, through which the ends of the rock shaft 9 extends, permitoscillation of said shaft. The tubular bushing ID is fitted endwisebetween the segments I 9 for oscillation with the rock shaft 9. Anarcuate yoke 22 is fitted in the channel of the track member l8 forendwise sliding movement therein, and is provided with end bearings 23in which the ends of the rock shaft 9 are journaled. Cross-bars 24 ontop of the track member [8 act to confine the yoke 22 in the channel ofthe track member I8 and also serve as anchors for attachment to suitableconnections, as at 24', for bracing the track member 8 to the bars I. Ahand lever 25 arises from the yoke 22 in the transverse center thereoffor use in sliding said yoke, and has suitably mounted thereon the usualspring-loaded detent bolt 26 and bolt-retractin hand grip 21. The detentbolt 26 is suitably extended through the yoke 22 for entering intoselected circumferentially spaced apertures 29 in the track member l8,whereby said yoke 22 may be adjusted in said member l8 into differentset positions to variably oscillate said frame and lock the same indifferent, laterally tilted positions.

As shown in Figure 2, the described mounting for the frame 3, and themeans for oscillating said frame are arranged immediately in the rear ofthe seat 30 of the tractor, whereby the hand lever 25 is withinconvenient, easy reach of the driver of the tractor.

The scraper blade I6 is swingable laterally about the axis of the postI1 to variably incline the same at different angles relative to thedirection of travel of the mechanism.

For swinging the scraper blade l laterally, a collar 3! is fixed by setbolts 32 on the upper end of the post H with a hand lever 33 suitablyfixed at one end to said collar and inclining forwardly and upwardly sothat its front end is disposed above the hand lever 25, to clear thesame, and is within easy reach from the drivers seat 39. A collar 35suitably fixed on the post ll beneath the lower plate 1 prevents slidingmovement of said post upwardly in the plates 6, l, and in the bushing 8.An arcuate brace bar 35 is provided for preventing flexing of thescraper blade i5, laterally, and which underlies the frame 3 with itsends suitably fixed to said scraper blade, adjacent to the ends of theblade, by depending arms 35 on said bar. The brace bar 35 is slidablyfitted in an arcuate channel-type guide bar 31 extending across theframe 3 at an intermediate point and having its ends fixed to the sidebars 4 in any suitable manner. A detent bolt 38 is slidably mounted in.the guide bar 3'! in the transverse center thereof and in a U-bracket 39extending rearwardly from said guide bar 31. The detent bolt 38 isspring-loaded, as at 4!), to be projected into selectedcircumferentially spaced apertures 4| provided in the brace bars 35,whereby the scraper blade [5 may be locked in differently swungpositions. A forked retracting lever 42 is operatively connected to thedetent bolt 38 and pivot-ed, as at 43, between ears 44 on the guide bar37. A pull cord 55 is connected at its ends to said lever 52 and to the'drivers seat 55, as at 46, 41, for operation by the driver of thetractor to swing said lever 52 and retract the detent bolt 31 out of theapertures 4 I.

Hydraulic means are provided for swinging the frame 3 and the scraperblade I6 upwardly about the axis of the rock shaft 9 comprising thefollowing:

A horizontal arm 48 extends rearwardl from the beam 85 in the transversecenter of said beam and with its front end suitably secured, as at 49,to said beam. An upright 55 rising from an intermediate part Of the arm48 with its upper end suitably connected rigidly to the rear side of thetrack member I8 braces said arm 48. As will be apparent, the arm 48extends through the track member l8 and terminates in the rear of thecross-bar 5. A pair of parallel laterally spaced links 5! are pivoted atone end thereof, as at 52, to the upper end of the upright 50 to extendrearwardly therefrom. A link 52 is pivoted at its upper end, as at 53,to the other ends of the links 5| with its lower end pivoted, as at 5 1,to a stud 55 extending forwardly from a bearing plate 56 fixed to thefront side of the guide bar 31 in the transverse center of said bar,said stud being journaled in the bearing plate 56 to rotate about anhorizontal axis so that the frame 3 may oscillate relative to said stud.An hydraulic cylinder 51 is suitably pivoted, as at 58, at its lower endto the rear end of the arm 38 in upstanding position and is providedwith a piston 59 pivoted, as at 50, between the links 5i midway betweenthe ends of said links. An hydraulic pressure line BI is suitablyconnected, as at 62, to the lower end of the'hydraulic cylinder 51 forconnection in the usual hydraulic system of the tractor for control ofthe line to admit hydraulic pressure to the cylinder iii and relievesuch pressure at will.

Referring now to the operation of the described invention: With thehydraulic cylinder 51 relieved of hydraulic pressure therein, the frame3, together with the parts carried thereby, is free to swing downwardlyabout the axis of the rock shaft 9, under the influence of gravity, toengage the scraper blade I6 with the ground. In this downward swingingof the frame 3, the piston rod 59 is moved inwardly of the hydrauliccylinder 57 by means of the described link connections between saidpiston, said links, as will be understood, being connected to theframe 3by the bearing plate 55 and guide bar 31. By operation of the hand lever25, the yoke 22 may be slid in the track member 18 toward either side ofthe mechanism to oscillate the frame 3 and the scraper blade [8 aboutthe axis of the stub shaft H so as to incline the scraper blade 16 fromthe horizontal at any desired angle. The machine may be set at thedesired angle by means of the detent bolt 26 and parts associatedtherewith. By means of the hand lever 33 the scraper blade may be swunglaterally about the axis of the post i! in any angular position in whichsaid blade has been adjusted vertically and locked in the selectedlateral position by means of the detent bolt 38. By admitting hydraulicpressure to the hydraulic cylinder 51, the piston 59 may be caused tomove upwardly to correspondingly swing the links 5| so that a lift isimparted to the link 52 whereby the frame 3 and the scraper blade [6 maybe swung upwardly about the axis )f the rock shaft 9 so that the scraperblade I6 may be lifted out of or off of the ground into idle position orto vary the depth of scrapin operations, as desired.

The foregoing will, it is believed, suffice to impart a clearunderstanding of my invention without further explanation.

Manifestly, the invention, as described, is susceptible of modificationwithout departing from the inventive concept, and right is hereinreserved to such modifications as fall within the scope of the appendedclaims.

What I claim is:

1. In a terracing mechanism, for attachment to the rear of a tractor, aframe, means for attaching said frame to said tractor in rearwardlyextending position for oscillation about the longitudinal axis of theframe and vertical swinging about an axis at a right angle to the axisof oscillation, manipulative means for oscilating the frame intodifferent set positions, hydraulic means for swinging said frame, and ascraper blade mounted on the frame, the means first mentioned comprisingan upwardly arched track member extending transversely of said frame andrigidly fixed to said tractor, an arcuate yoke slidably mounted on saidbar for endwise movement longitudinally of the same, and means for mounting said frame on opposite ends of said yoke for vertical swinging onsaid ends.

2. In a terracing mechanism, for attachment to the rear of a tractor, aframe, means for attachin said frame to said tractor in rearwardlyextending position for oscillation about the longitudinal axis of theframe and vertical swinging about an axis at a right angle to the axisof oscillation, manipulative means for oscillating the frame intodifferent set positions, hydraulic means for swinging said frame, and ascraper blade mounted on the frame, the means first mentioned comprisingan upwardly arched track member extending transversely of said frame andrigidly fixed to said tractor, an arcuate yoke slidably mounted on saidtrack member for endwise movement longitudinally of the same, and meansfor mounting said frame on opposite ends of said yoke for Verticalswinging on said ends comprising a rock shaft extending through saidtrack member and having a stub shaft thereon extending at a right anglethereto and J'ournaled for oscillation about an axis coincident withthat of said track member,

3. In a terracing mechanism, for attachment to the rear of a tractor, aframe, means for attaching said frame to said tractor in rearwardlyextending position for oscillation about the longitudinal axis of theframe and vertical swinging about an axis at a right angle to the axisof oscillation, manipulative means for oscillating the frame intodifierent set positions, hydraulic means for swinging said frame, ascraper blade mounted on the frame for lateral swinging thereon, andmanipulative means to swing said blade into different set positionsincluding a hand lever, an arcuate brace bar having the ends thereoffixed to said scraper adjacent the ends of the latter, an arcuatechanneled guide bar forming a part of said frame and through which thebrace bar is slidably extended, said brace bar having longitudinallyspaced apertures therein, a retractable detent bolt mounted on saidguide bar and spring-loaded for projection into said apertures when saidblade is swung into different positions, and a retracting lever for saiddetent bolt.

HERSCHEL H. TAYLOR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references A are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,540,161 Callison et al. June 2,1925

